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The Corporation of the Township of North Dumfries
By-law Number 3646-26
Being a By-law to Regulate the Keeping and Licensing of Backyard Chickens in
the Township of North Dumfries
Whereas Section 8 of the Municipal Act, 2001, c.25 provides municipalities with the
broad authority to govern affairs as it considers appropriate and to enhance the
municipality's ability to respond to municipal issues;
And Whereas Section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, c. 25 provides that a municipality
may provide any services or thing that the municipality considers necessary or desirable
for the public in respect to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the
municipality and the health, safety and well-being of persons;
And Whereas Section 10 (2) (9) of the Municipal Act, 2001, c.25 provides that a
municipality may pass By-laws respecting matters within the following spheres of
jurisdiction: animals;
And Whereas Section 8(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001, c. 25 provides that a municipality
may pass By-laws providing for a system of licensing respecting matter;
And Whereas the Council of The Corporation of the Township of North Dumfries deems
it necessary and in the public interest to regulate the keeping of backyard chickens for
public health and safety and for nuisance and noise purposes;
Now Therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Township of North Dumfries
enacts as follows:
Section 1 - General
3.1 Notwithstanding General Zoning By-law 689-83 which prohibits the keeping of
livestock in accessory buildings and the Exotic Animals By-law 3281-21 which
prohibits keeping of hens outside of areas in Agricultural zones, the keeping of
hens is permitted on residential lots meeting the conditions as defined in this By-
law. This By-law does not apply to properties Zoned Agricultural (Z1) in the
General Zoning By-law 689-83.
Section 2 - Definitions
2.1 For the purposes of this By-law, all words shall have their normal and customary
meaning save and except for those hereinafter defined;
a) "Application" means a document of request.
b) "Backyard Chickens/Hens" means female chickens that are raised for the
purpose of providing companionship, eggs or as a meat source.
c) "Coop" means a fully enclosed weatherproof and ventilated building where
hens are kept and which the interior includes nest boxes for egg laying,
perches for the hens to sleep on, and food and water containers.
d) "Council" means the Council of The Corporation of the Township of North
Dumfries.
e) "Custodian" means a person who was responsible for the care of and have
control over an animal that is Deadstock immediately before the animal died
but does not include an operator as defined in Ontario Regulation 106/09
(Disposal of Dead Farm Animals) made under the Nutrient Management Act,
2002, with respect to an animal the operator is required to dispose of under
that regulation.
f) "Deadstock" means an animal that is specified in the regulations and that has
died from a cause, other than slaughter. Specified animals include Poultry.
g) "Declaration" means a document that is a written statement in which the writer
swears under penalty of perjury that the contents are true.
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Backyard Chickens By-law
h) "Dwelling" means one or more rooms in a building, designed as, or intended
as, or capable of being used or occupied as a single independent
housekeeping unit and containing living, sleeping, sanitary and food
preparation facilities or facilities for the installation of kitchen equipment and
has an independent entrance. For the purpose of this By-law a dwelling unit
does not include any commercial accommodation or a recreational trailer.
i)
"Officer" means a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer for the Township, a
person appointed or designated by Council to enforce this By-law, a member
of the Humane Society or a police officer.
j) "Outdoor run" means an area enclosed by wire screen intended for permitting
a hen or hens to be outdoors.
k) "Person" means a human being or a corporation treated as having the rights
and obligations.
I)
"Permit" means a permit that is issued by the Township that allows the Permit
holder to raise Backyard Chickens at the address identified in the Permit.
m) "Property" means a parcel of land and any buildings or other structures on the
land.
n) "Property Owner" means the registered owner(s) of a property within the
Township of North Dumfries
o) "Rooster/Cock" means an adult male chicken.
p) "Sanitary Condition" means a condition that is not offensive to the senses, not
injurious to the health of any Person and conditions that prevent the spread of
communicable diseases and protect the public health and welfare.
q) "Slaughtering" means the killing of livestock for purposes that include the use
of meat for food.
r) "Tenant" means a person who rents or leases a dwelling from a Property
Owner.
s) "Township" means The Corporation of the Township of North Dumfries.
t) "Zoning By-law" means The Corporation of North Dumfries General Zoning
By-law No. 689-83.
Section 3 - General Requirements
3.1 Persons who are wishing to raise Backyard Chickens in a Zone other than
Agricultural (Z1) within the Township shall obtain a Permit from the Township
prior to having Backyard Chickens on their Property. The ability to raise
Backyard Chickens shall be limited to a Residential Zone classification as
established in General Zoning Bylaw 689-83 and must comply with the applicable
provisions and regulations as set out in this Bylaw.
3.2To obtain a Permit to raise Backyard Chickens the applicant must;
a) complete an Application and provide a sketch as set out in Schedule (A)
b) complete a Declaration as set out in Schedule (B)
c) pay the required one-time Permit fee
d) pass a one-time site inspection by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer of the
Township
3.3 Every owner of Hens and every owner of property on which Hens are kept shall
ensure that:
a) No more than 4 Hens are kept on a residentially zones property with less than
a lot size of 0.8 ha (2 acres) and no more than 10 Hens on properties equal to
or larger than 0.8 ha (2 acres);
b) The owner of the Hens resides at the Property, or the tenant has written
permission from the owner;
c) The Hens are kept in fully enclosed Coop or Run in a manner that contains
the Hens on the Property and prevents their escape from such Coop or Run;
d) The Coop and any Run are within the rear yard or interior side yard of the
property
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Backyard Chickens By-law
e) Coops shall not exceed a maximum height of 4.5 metres (14.75 feet);
f) Coops and Runs shall not be located within 3 metres (9.8 feet) of any
dwelling or within 1 metre (3.9 feet) of any property line;
g) Coops and Runs must always be kept in clean and Sanitary Condition and, in
good repair and condition;
h) Coops and Runs are maintained to ensure that odours do not cause a
nuisance to residents of any neighbouring property or any residents of the
Township;
i)
Coops must have a ground floor area of no larger than 9.3 square metres
(100 sq. ft.);
j) A maximum of one chicken coop shall be permitted per residential property;
k) Coops and Runs must be fully enclosed and Coops shall be weatherproof
with flooring that is resistant to moisture, mold and retains heat;
I)
Coop floors are lined with shaving, straw, or other appropriate materials to
absorb manure and facilitate cleaning;
m) Coops are deep cleaned at least two times yearly including disinfecting of
troughs, perches and nests;
n) Feeders and water containers are provided and are cleaned and disinfected
regularly;
o) All stored feed is kept in rodent proof containers and secured at all times to
prevent rodents and other animals from accessing it;
p) Feeding of hens is done in a manner that minimizes the attraction of rodents
or other animals;
q) Manure and droppings are cleaned out at least once a week and stored in a
secured container or composter in accordance with compost regulations until
disposed of in accordance with all applicable law and regulations;
r) Hens have access to an enclosed outdoor run area;
s) Deceased hens are disposed of at a livestock disposal facility, through the
services of a veterinarian, chicken exchange program, or through a facility as
approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness and are
disposed of in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations;
t) There is no sale of eggs, manure or other products associated with the
keeping of hens;
u) No slaughtering or butchering of hens is done on the property;
v) Hens are kept in accordance with all other laws including the Township's by-
laws respecting noise, clean yards, property standards, and animals as well
as provincial legislation respecting the keeping of animals.
Section 4 - Prohibitions
4.1 No Person shall
a) raise Backyard Chickens/Hens without first having obtained a Permit;
b) raise more than 4 Hens on a Property less than 0.8 ha (2 acres) or more than
10 Hens on a property equal to or larger than 0.8 ha (2 acres) in a Residential
Zone;
c) dispose of Deadstock in a manner not consistent with regulations of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness;
d) slaughter Backyard Chickens on their Property;
e) sell products (eggs, meat, manure) that are derived from the raising of
Backyard Chickens;
f)
raise Backyard Chickens without providing appropriate food and water;
g) raise Backyard Chickens without providing sanitary shelter and living
environment
h) shall locate a Coop and Outdoor Run in a manner that is not consistent with
the provisions identified in section 3.3 of this By-law;
i)
shall have a Coop that is built in a manner that is not consistent with section
3.3 of this By-law;
j) shall allow Backyard Chickens to run at large;
k) have a Rooster on a residentially zoned property;
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Backyard Chickens By-law
I)
hinder or obstruct an Officer from entering onto a Property to inspect a Coop
or Outdoor Run
Section 5 - Offence and Penalty
5.1 Every Person who contravenes any of the provisions of this By-law shall be guilty
of an offence and upon conviction, is liable to a fine pursuant to the Provincial
Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P. 33, as amended.
5.2This By-law shall be enforced by Municipal Law Enforcement Officers appointed
by the Township with the duty of enforcing the provisions of the By-laws of the
Corporation and any member of the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
5.3 If this By-law is contravened and a conviction entered, the court in which the
conviction was entered or any court of competent jurisdiction may, in addition to
any other remedy and to any penalty that is imposed, make an order prohibiting
the continuance or repetition of the offence by the person convicted.
Section 6 - Severability
6.1 It is hereby declared that notwithstanding any part of this By-law, or parts thereof,
may be found by any Court of law to be invalid or beyond the power of Council to
enact such section or sections or parts thereof shall be deemed to be severable
and that all other sections or parts of this By-law are separate and independent
there from and enacted as such.
Section 7 - Administration
7.1 This By-law shall take force and effect on June 22nd, 2026.
7.2This By-law may be referred to as the Backyard Chicken By-law.
Read a First, Second and Third Time and Finally Passed this 22nd day of June,
2026.
Susan Foxton, Mayor
Ashley Good, Clerk